PSY 304 Exam 3 Study Guide: Trait Theories and Humanistic Psychology

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering trait theories (Allport, Cattell, Eysenck, Five-Factor Theory), factor analysis, and Maslow's humanistic theory for PSY 304 Exam 3.

Proprium

Gordon Allport's term for the core self or ego, encompassing various developmental aspects such as bodily sense, self-identity, self-esteem, self-extension, and the self as knower or actor.

Cardinal Trait

In Allport's trait theory, an exceptionally pervasive disposition that dominates, shapes, and directs nearly all of an individual's behavior and life choices.

Central Trait

In Allport's trait theory, one of the 5 to 10 prominent, core characteristics that best describe an individual's typical behavior across diverse situations.

Secondary Trait

In Allport's trait theory, a peripheral or situational characteristic that is less conspicuous, less generalized, and less consistent in influencing behavior.

Functional Autonomy

Allport's concept that an adult motive can become completely independent of its original childhood origin, biological drive, or historical cause.

Self-Extension

A developmental dimension of Allport's proprium in which an individual expands their sense of identity by incorporating significant people, possessions, activities, and causes into the self.

Idiographic Approach

A personality research methodology that focuses on studying the unique, in-depth pattern of traits and psychological organization within a single individual.

Nomothetic Approach

A personality research methodology that focuses on identifying general, universal laws, statistical averages, and trait dimensions across large groups of people.

Factor Analysis

A statistical procedure used by trait theorists to analyze intercorrelations among numerous observed variables and identify a smaller set of underlying dimensions or latent factors.

L-Data (Life Data)

Raymond Cattell's category of personality data obtained from demographic records, school transcripts, or observations of an individual's everyday behavior in real-life settings.

Q-Data (Questionnaire Data)

Raymond Cattell's category of personality data gathered through self-report questionnaires, inventories, or rating scales evaluating one's own behaviors and mental states.

T-Data (Test Data)

Raymond Cattell's category of personality data collected from objective, standardized behavioral tests and performance tasks where the participant does not know which trait is being assessed.

Source Traits

In Cattell's theory, the fundamental, underlying, and stable dimensions of personality identified through factor analysis that give rise to surface behaviors.

Ability Traits

In Cattell's structural model, traits that determine how efficiently and effectively a person works toward achieving a goal, exemplified by intelligence.

Temperament Traits

In Cattell's structural model, traits that describe the underlying stylistic and emotional tone, speed, and energy with which a person behaves.

Dynamic Traits

In Cattell's system, motivational traits that activate, power, and direct an individual's behavior toward specific ends, categorized into ergs, sentiments, and attitudes.

Ergs

Cattell's term for innate, biologically based dynamic motives or drives (such as sex, hunger, and security) that supply basic psychological energy for behavior.

Sentiments

In Cattell's dynamic system, learned, environmental-mold dynamic traits that represent stable, enduring motives focused on major social institutions or values (such as patriotism or religion).

Attitudes

In Cattell's dynamic system, specific learned behavioral inclinations to take particular actions in particular situations regarding a specific object or event.

Subsidation Chain

Cattell's hierarchical arrangement of dynamic traits in which specific attitudes serve learned sentiments, which ultimately operate to satisfy underlying innate ergs.

Dynamic Lattice

Cattell's visual diagram depicting the complex, interconnected web of subsidation chains relating ergs, sentiments, and attitudes.

Sizia–Affectia

A primary source trait dimension in Cattell's 16PF contrasting a reserved, cool, and detached interpersonal style (sizia) with a warmhearted, outgoing, and attentive style (affectia).

16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF)

An objective self-report assessment developed by Raymond Cattell to measure sixteen primary source traits underlying human personality.

Specification Equation

Cattell's mathematical formula designed to predict a person's behavior in a specific situation by weighting traits according to their situational relevance.

Big Five Dimensions

A widely validated personality framework consisting of five broad, factor-analytically derived traits: Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.

Basic Tendencies

In Costa and McCrae's Five-Factor Theory, the fundamental, biologically based personality capacities and universal traits that remain highly stable across the lifespan.

Characteristic Adaptations

In Costa and McCrae's Five-Factor Theory, the learned skills, habits, attitudes, and social roles that develop as basic tendencies interact with external environmental influences.

Supertraits

Hans Eysenck's broad, higher-order personality dimensions (Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Psychoticism) derived from factor analysis, each containing numerous traits and habits.

Personality Circumplex

A circular, quadrant-based geometric model used to illustrate interacting personality dimensions, such as Eysenck's combination of Extraversion and Neuroticism to map classical temperaments.

Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow's structured model organizing human motives into an order of prepotency, progressing from physiological and safety needs to belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization.

Deficiency Motivation (D-Motivation)

Maslow's term for motives triggered by physiological or psychological deficits, operating primarily on drive-reduction principles to eliminate physiological or emotional tension.

Growth Motivation (B-Motivation)

Maslow's term for being-motivation or metamotivation aimed at realizing one's potentials, seeking enriching experiences, and pursuing higher Being-values rather than repairing deficits.

Metaneeds

Maslow's term for higher-level growth needs associated with self-actualization, such as truth, beauty, goodness, justice, and wholeness.

Metapathology

Maslow's concept referring to the psychological sickness, existential meaninglessness, and apathy that result from the frustration or deprivation of metaneeds.

Deficiency Love (D-Love)

In Maslow's humanistic theory, a needy, selfish form of affection driven by the craving to receive reassurance, security, or validation from another person.

Being Love (B-Love)

In Maslow's theory, an unselfish, non-possessive love focused on admiring and supporting the intrinsic worth, growth, and essence of another person.

Deficiency Cognition (D-Cognition)

Maslow's term for an instrumental, selective perception of the environment that evaluates people and objects strictly by their capacity to satisfy personal deficits.

Being Cognition (B-Cognition)

Maslow's term for an objective, non-judgmental perception where reality, individuals, and objects are experienced holistically and appreciated for their intrinsic nature.

Peak Experience

In Maslow's humanistic theory, an intensely joyful, awe-inspiring, and deeply absorbing moment marked by temporary transcendence of the ego and a profound sense of unity.

Self-Actualization

The pinnacle need in Maslow's hierarchy, characterized by the full development and realization of one's unique potentials, talents, and capabilities.